Coyotes News

‘Yotes Notes: Jeffrey Scores First Goal with Arizona

GLENDALE – Coyotes center Dustin Jeffrey left Saturday’s game against Ottawa after being hit in the upper lip by a puck late in the first period.

After getting five stitches during the intermission, Jeffrey returned for the second period and took a tripping penalty at 1:53.

The tide turned quickly, however, when Jeffrey emerged from the penalty box, took a stretch pass from Tobias Rieder and scored a breakaway goal that helped secure Arizona’s 4-3 victory.

“As soon as the door opened I was trying to head that way,” Jeffrey said. “Tobi was able to pick off the pass, and so I just tried to get as open as I could right out of the box. The (defender) had a lot of speed coming back and he tried to lift my stick. I was just happy to get a shot off at all.”

The shot, which trickled between goalie Craig Anderson’s pads, was the first goal for Jeffrey in his fourth game playing for the Coyotes, and the 18th of his NHL career.

“You just try to come in and make an impression,” Jeffrey said about the opportunity he’s getting to play with captain Shane Doan sidelined by injury. “Tonight, to be able to contribute to a team win is all you can ask for.”

Jeffrey added that he was more than willing to trade the cut to his lip for a goal and a win in the homestand finale.

• Here’s the official NHL ruling on Ottawa’s second goal, which the Coyotes challenged citing goaltender interference:

“At 17:57 of the second period in the Senators/Coyotes game, Arizona requested a Coach’s Challenge to review whether an Ottawa player interfered with Arizona goaltender Anders Lindback prior to Mike Hoffman’s goal.

After reviewing all available replays and consulting with NHL Hockey Operations staff, the Referee confirmed no goaltender interference infractions occurred before the puck crossed the goal line.

Therefore the original call stands – good goal Ottawa Senators.

Since the Coach’s Challenge did not result in the original call being overturned, the Arizona Coyotes forfeit their time-out.”

• Doan missed his third straight game because of a lower-body injury.

• Defenseman Zbynek Michalek was scratched from the lineup because of illness.

“I was getting a lot of opportunities and finding the puck in the right areas and for whatever reason it seemed to find the back of the net,” Boedker said about his second hat trick vs. Ottawa this season. “It feels good, definitely, but I shouldn’t get too used to that I don’t think.”

Before Boedker, the last NHL players to notch two hat tricks vs. the same team in the same season were Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (vs. Tampa Bay) and Anaheim’s Corey Perry (vs. Columbus) in 2011-12.

Boedker is the first player in the Jets/Coyotes franchise history to accomplish the feat.

• Head Coach Dave Tippett tied Pat Burns (501) for 20th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list among head coaches.

• The Coyotes improved to 10-0-0 this season and 160-11-11 under Tippett when leading after two periods.